Rahul Gandhi is back from sabbatical; suspense looms over places he visited

New Delhi, Apr 15: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi has finally returned from his two-month-long sabbatical on Thursday.

The 44-year-old leader arrived here at 11.15 am on a Thai Airways plane from Bangkok, ending days of intense speculation over his return and amidst celebrations by party workers who burst crackers outside his residence.

"He (Rahul Gandhi) is back," an official at his office told IANS. He added that an official confirmation would soon be released.

Wearing a dark shirt and seated in the back seat of his vehicle, he arrived escorted by his security personnel and drove straight into the house without interacting with the waiting media persons.

The return of Rahul comes ahead of the party's planned farmers' rally here on the contentious Land Bill issue which he is likely to address.

The plane, which was scheduled to land at 10.35 am, was delayed by 40 minutes, sources said. Shortly later, Rahul drove to his 12, Tughlaq Lane residence where his mother and Congress President Sonia Gandhi and sister Priyanka were waiting.

Rahul had left quietly before the Budget session began on February 23 but it is still not known where he had spent the days.

Ever since he took a sabbatical since February 20, Rahul Gandhi's absence has been bothering everyone.

News reports started coming in since morning that Rahul has returned today, April 15.

Now, suspense looms over which all places he visited.

Meanwhile, keeping up the suspense over his return from his sabbattical, Congress skirted pointed questions whether he would be back to today.

Party spokesman PC Chacko, however, gave ample indications that the Congress vice president would be active before the April 19 farmers rally.

"Our Vice President is coming back to join this Kisan Rally on April 19, and he has given appointment to many leaders also," he said.

To a question, Digvijaya Singh has said Rahul is coming back today, Chacko said "our Vice President Rahul Gandhi along with Sonia Gandhi will be addressing the Kisan Rally on April 19".